Singing in the Rain . . . and Everywhere Else

That’s me! I love to sing.
I frequently burst into song for no reason at all. I am known in my family for my ability to do this with lyrics that are appropriate to whatever is going on around me at the time.
When I was a little girl, my sister and I used to sit outside and sing every song from our favorite albums at the top of our lungs. We especially liked Carly Simon and the Captain and Tennille. I loved singing in school pageants. I loved singing at Mass, no matter how bad the songs were–and in the 70s, they were bad.
In college, I joined the 7 p.m. Mass choir and learned to read music instantly and sing in harmony. I still remember and sing many of the songs I learned back then.
I sang for my babies for hours when they were little, both to put them to sleep and to amuse them when we were in the car. (Teddy usually shouted no when I sang to him. There were only two songs he would allow me to sing to him.)
When we go on long car trips, I sing to keep myself awake. My favorites are the many, many church songs to which I know every single word.
People used to ask me why I didn’t sing in the church choir. I had a good answer–I was needed in my pew to keep the children under control. But these days Lorelei and William behave pretty well in Mass. So a few weeks ago when a call went out for singers for a special choir (we hadn’t had a regular one for quite some time) I joined in and had so much fun.
Out of that a regular little choir is developing. We are starting by singing only one Sunday each month, and only practicing on the two Wednesdays before we sing. If we have enough interest we may start singing more often. We had practice tonight.
As a choir member I can exercise a little influence to prevent our singing all those awful songs I hate! But more important, I can be involved in a ministry which also feeds my own soul.

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“The Holy Father said that he wanted to congratulate me for the words I am saying. He also called Archbishop (Jose H.) Gomez (of Los Angeles),” Bishop Seitz said, recalling the phone call. “I told him I felt it was very important at this time to show our solidarity to those who are suffering. I told him I had just come from Mass at which I was praying for him and I always do. He thanked me and said that whenever we celebrate Mass, we are praying together, he where he is and me at the border. I told him that I am very honored to serve here.”

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